Month: April 2018

Posted in A Father's Love, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, wisdom, worship

Psalm 119 Part 1–Walk Blamelessly and Prepared

Posted on by Michael Smith

Without a doubt–the longest chapter of the Bible and the longest psalm; Psalms 119 is a collection of David’s thoughts on life.  If one looks closely, it is apparent that it is a walk through the Hebrew alphabet. Each letter describing a thought or principle.  We will look at a group of them this week.  Today, A & B. David begins the walk through his thoughts at a place where we all can relate–When we walk with him and trust him, he makes our life rich and meaningful.

David celebrates the idea that following God and his word is a great life. God lays down the law clearly, and as such; he makes our path clear and straight. Solomon, David’s son, reiterated the thought in Proverbs 3, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding–acknowledge him in all your ways and he will make your path’s straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6. 

David also reminds us that to remain blameless, God’s word should be locked into our heart. We don’t casually glance at the word–we ingest it. We store it in our lives to use often. It is truly our weapon of choice against spiritual attack. We keep it at the ready–to face life’s trials and Satan’s attacks. When we do, we can walk head up; facing forward and walking toward God and Home (Heaven).  First thoughts are always important. David’s were clear, Walk with the Lord and keep his word at the ready!

God Bless You

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
    who walk according to the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
    and seek him with all their heart—
3 they do no wrong
    but follow his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
    that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
    in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame
    when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
    as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees;
    do not utterly forsake me.

ב Beth

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

Posted in A Father's Love, Devotions, spiritual warfare, worship

Psalm 117-118, Can I Get an Amen?

Posted on by Michael Smith

Can I get an Amen? I love it when the preacher is so inspired, that he wants and needs to know the people are not missing a glorious message! He will stop and say, “Can I Get an AMEN, Church!” It is “Preacher” language for Listen up and do not miss this point!​  Psalms 117-118 is David’s, “Can I Get an AMEN!” He wrote the song to remind Israel that God had taken them through so much to make them great! They were slaves, but, by the time of the writing–had grown to one of the international superpowers! 

So, David gratefully reports, that through those battles and storms, God’s love endured and will endure forever.  That message was so easy to forget in their peace and prosperity, but, nothing had changed. There every food and fiber were still God’s; and, God still provided it all for his chosen people!

In our lives, we need also to remember that God’s Love endures forever!  He is amazing, and takes the same time and care to meet our needs–as he did for David! We are his chosen, and for us–His love endures forever!  When things are tight, His love endures forever. When tragedy strikes, His love endures forever! In our peaks and our valleys, His Love endures forever.  When we are close and when we are distant–His Love endures forever!  Help me, Lord never to forget–I am yours; and, your Love endures forever! CAN I GET AN AMEN!!!!

God  Bless You

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:
    “His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
    “His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
    “His love endures forever.”

5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
    he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
    I look in triumph on my enemies.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
    but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
    but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my defense[a];
    he has become my salvation.

Posted in A Father's Love, Devotions, spiritual warfare, wisdom, worship

Psalm 116–A Fresh Start

Posted on by Michael Smith

As a leader, David always took it back to the Lord. This Psalm is particularly applicable, because it is a reminder that God always delivered the King and gave him a fresh start. From boyhood, David faced lions, bears, giants, kings, opposing armies, family and his own sin. In each case, David was completely outmatched on his own–but, completely safe in the arms of the Lord.  

God brought David through each trial, and gave him a fresh start to face the next. It was not as if God told David, “Sorry David, you have used up all your chips–now you have to go it alone.” God met him where he was; and each time protected, delivered and gave David a fresh start.  

God offers us that fresh start, as well. It does not matter to God how many times we call upon him for his help and leadership. God is always ready to move forward and set us on track for the next adventure. The Lord does not keep score, instead, like  David, he clears the slate each day and gives us a fresh start. We need not live our lives as though we have used up all the grace God is willing to give. Instead, we need simply to be grateful for what he has done, and start new each day trusting and following our Lord.

God Bless You 

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me,
    the anguish of the grave came over me;
    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “Lord, save me!”

5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;
    our God is full of compassion.
6 The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 Return to your rest, my soul,
    for the Lord has been good to you.

8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the Lord
    in the land of the living.

Posted in A Father's Love, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, wisdom, worship

Psalm 115–Not to US

Posted on by Michael Smith
The shortest psalm gives the greatest message–not Long, not  complex but as poignant and real a message to God and to his chosen.  There is nothing we could do, no one we can be, nowhere we can live that would ever overshadow the greatness of our God! His love and faithfulness commands our reverence, his grace our praise.  We deserve death, hell and a life of emptiness–through him we receive a life of peace, purpose, provision and power!
He is the GREAT I AM. He does not need our praise or devotion, but he gives us a life ad a purpose that makes our hearts burst with that praise and devotion.  Thank You Lord for your love and faithfulness.  Theu will make me ever devoted, always grateful and praising your name forever!
God Bless You
  1. Not to us, Lord, not to us

    but to your name be the glory,
    because of your love and faithfulness.

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, spiritual warfare, wisdom, worship

Psalms 114–Smart as a Rock?

Posted on by Michael Smith

Today’s psalm is a fun message for believers.  In short, as stiff necked as the slaves who were  granted their freedom behaved, the rest of the earth revered God!  While Israel was tromping around the desert complaining and moaning–The seas, rivers and rocks were jumping to obey God.  The rest of creation knew God was large and in charge! Still, the very people  that he freed, fed, led and protected–they never quite grasped that truth’s enormity!

Thank the Lord that we can see the amazing nature of God–His immense power stretches for gazillions of miles in all directions, his attention to detail reaches to particles so small we cannot even see them with our finest technology–still, we know they are there because we see their work.  In short, the rest of the world sees God’s power and yields to his leadership–we people need to join the effort. It is a shame that rocks and water have better sense than people, but, we can be as smart as a rock…”Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but, to trust and obey!”

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/t/r/u/trustobey.htm

God Bless You


When Israel came out of Egypt,

    Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary,
    Israel his dominion.

3 The sea looked and fled,
    the Jordan turned back;
4 the mountains leaped like rams,
    the hills like lambs.

5 Why was it, sea, that you fled?
    Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
    you hills, like lambs?

7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
    at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the rock into a pool,
    the hard rock into springs of water.

Posted in A Father's Love, Devotions, spiritual warfare, worship

Psalm 113–From the Rising of the Sun…

Posted on by Michael Smith

It is the intention of God, that, as his chosen ones, we remember who He is. It always seems to escape us in the times we are either extremely comfortable or extremely stressed–that God has things under control. As the creator, the master of everything and the beginning and end–God knows what is going on, and has it well in hand.  In order for that to sink in, we need to focus on who He is and who we are in Him.

So, when we praise God all day–it does not mean we quit what we are doing to sing hymns and pray. Instead, it means God should be in our thoughts as we face situations throughout our day. He should be a part of the decision making process. If He is not, then we begin to think we can do this ourselves. As that thought takes over, we start to run independent of God and end up in a chaotic mess.  So instead, we keep God in the forefront of our thoughts and trust and allow Him to be lord of our lives, from sun up to sundown.

God Bless You

Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the Lord, you his servants;
    praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised,
    both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised.

4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
    his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
    the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look
    on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home
    as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

Posted in A Father's Love, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, wisdom, worship

Psalms 112–The Expectations of a Reverent Person

Posted on by Michael Smith
Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23 make it clear, as a  group of folks; what we deserve is death.  We all have sinned and that sin separates us from God; but, God demonstrated his love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! Romans 5:8. So, you may ask, why is the Roman road passing through Psalm 112.   Like the people of old, our righteousness comes by faith.
 
The psalmist was not speaking of perfect people; when he recounted the rewards of the reverent. He was simply telling Israel–that fearing God, and trusting him; would provide for them a life that was unmatched in the world.  It was not necessarily a life free from pain or trial, but, it did include gifts and rewards that the rest of the world could only dream of. In fact, as  the world looks on, they become increasingly frustrated and angry, because clearly something is different.
 
Simply put, the reverent see the life they are given as a treasure. A treasure that is not to be taken for granted or hoarded, but, instead it is treated as a life gladly shared and fearlessly embraced. We live and give generously. The righteous seek God first, but share him in all that they do. His chosen do not hide from the world–instead they show the world that Christ is the difference–then, the world can choose to embrace the truth or continue to defy it. It is no secret–A life walking with Christ is exceedingly more fulfilling than one that is separate from God–Like the psalmist, we simply need to embrace the reverent life, and share it with others.
 
God Bless You
 
 

Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
    who greatly delights in his commandments!
2 His offspring will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
    he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
    who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
    he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news;
    his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is steady;[b] he will not be afraid,
    until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever;
    his horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked man sees it and is angry;
    he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
    the desire of the wicked will perish!

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, wisdom, worship

Psalm 111–God Deserves our Reverence

Posted on by Michael Smith

In a society where the government and the education system are “Hell-Bent” on eradicating God every public place, meeting or discussion; it is easy to lose our reverence for God.  We can continue to love him, admire him, and need him–but, as it relates to respect and honor, we sometimes fall into the trap, the world sets for us.

The psalmist reminds us all of the amazing God we SERVE. Yes, serve.  We are not little divas that ring a bell or click our fingers; only to have God meet our daily whims and whimsy. Instead, we are wretched sinners, saved by grace and given the ability to worship God and follow him. He loves us and offers us a full and meaningful life on earth and an eternal life with him in heaven. 

The reality is, however, that while he loves us totally and unconditionally–he still is the master of the universe. As such, we not only get to know and love him–but, we must give him the reverence he has earned. Humble yourself before almighty God, and see if he will not do amazing things in your life,as you follow him on this amazing journey.

God Bless You

I will extol the Lord with all my heart
    in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

2 Great are the works of the Lord;
    they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
    the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
    he remembers his covenant forever.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
    giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
    all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
    enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
    he ordained his covenant forever—
    holy and awesome is his name.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
    To him belongs eternal praise.

Posted in A Father's Love, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, wisdom, worship

Psalm 110–The King is Coming!!!

Posted on by Michael Smith

What a great reminder, that hundreds of years prior to Christ’s appearance, God , the Father, had already established Jesus’ royal lineage and provided him a throne.  Psalm 110, spoken of in Hebrews, is the prophetic, messianic psalm that announces the coming of our Lord. This psalm was the promise to Israel, an announcement to the world, and, a foreshadowing of the nature of the Messiah for ages to come–and, therefore, for us.

Christ, not David, is the conquering king. He rules at God’s side; and, upon his return He will judge nations, vanquish foes and restore peace and order to this chaotic world. He is God! He knows all, sees all and is more powerful than everything else combined! Jesus will not be surprised by the enemy, outsmarted by the world, or vanquished by anyone. Christ will return a victor and rule with the heart of a mighty, loving, matchless King.

We get to look back at the coming of the Messiah. We search scripture to reinforce our faith in his promise. David, however, was writing this promise purely from faith. He did not know his lineage would produce Jesus. He only knew God keeps His word.   Today, we know Christ came and died on Calvary. He rose and established a bridge for us, as sinners, to have a real and personal relationship with God Almighty. But, it still requires that same faith; the faith of David, to allow God to save us and transform us into his image.

He loves us and will continue to lead and make us ready for everything this life throws at us and also ready to meet and spend eternity with him in heaven.

God Bless You

The Lord says to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”

2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,
    “Rule in the midst of your enemies!”
3 Your troops will be willing
    on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendor,
    your young men will come to you
    like dew from the morning’s womb.[b]

4 The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”

5 The Lord is at your right hand[c];
    he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
    and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
7 He will drink from a brook along the way,[d]
    and so he will lift his head high.

Posted in A Father's Love, devotion, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, wisdom, worship

Psalm 109–God is Our Vindicator

Posted on by Michael Smith

One of the hard lessons in life we all learn, is that mean people, do mean things, even when we are nice. Each of us have encountered those that lie, cheat, abuse, accuse, berate, frustrate and seek to end our friendships, our reputations and even our lives–if possible.  They have no other reason to do so–other than “that they can.”

In recounting the life of David, he had several people like that. Saul, Absalom, Doeg, Ahithophel and many other enemies had one goal–to find, destroy and ultimately kill God’s dear friend. They didn’t have real cause to harm him, except for their personal gain realized from David’s demise. So David, a man after God’s own heart–went to his knees; and, took the task of vindication to the same God that had taken on all his other battles.

David had no where else to go! He was, at various points–hiding in caves, running for his very life, leaving his palace, or hiding in enemy territory. He did not have a local advocate, a media outlet or a 1-800 number to call for relief–He ONLY HAD the creator of the universe!!! History tells us that was all he needed. God did vindicate David. He prepared, protected and provided all David needed to be the greatest king in Israel.

He provides those same resources for us! We have no better outlet or resource for our preservation and vindication; than God Almighty. Life and those in our lives throw curve balls intended to up-end and destroy us. We want so badly to retaliate and avenge our wrongs. David reminds us that we need to look to our Father in Heaven for all things–even vindication–because, God can and will do it better than anybody else!

God Bless You

My God, whom I praise,
do not remain silent,
2 for people who are wicked and deceitful
have opened their mouths against me;
they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
3 With words of hatred they surround me;
they attack me without cause.
4 In return for my friendship they accuse me,
but I am a man of prayer.
5 They repay me evil for good,
and hatred for my friendship…

Help me, Lord my God;
save me according to your unfailing love.
27 Let them know that it is your hand,
that you, Lord, have done it.
28 While they curse, may you bless;
may those who attack me be put to shame,
but may your servant rejoice.
29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace
and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.

30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;
in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
to save their lives from those who would condemn them.